Implicit Bias

Implicit biases are the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions and decisions in an unconscious manner. These attitudes exist deep within the subconscious and are different from known biases that people try to conceal for the purpose of political correctness. Implicit biases are hard to know by just thinking about them.

“Our Kind of People” by Bayeté Ross Smith.

In the case of Black males, social scientists have found empirical data showing that many people in America have negative associations about Black males that directly impact a Black man’s ability to function successfully in society.

For witnesses (non-black males) individuals are free to recognize each black man as an individual with limitless potential. They are able to break from static thinking about identity. Black men are able to express agency, releasing them from the constraints of low expectation stereotypes.

We created Question Bridge to fight against the implicit bias people have toward Black males. We attempt to expose the diversity within the group, breaking the monolithic and negative perceptions of black male identity. When the project is complete, we hope that it will be much more difficult to say, “Black Males are …”